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This article is part of the Brussels Travel Guide special report.
Brussels isn’t a big sports city like Melbourne, London or Boston, but it’s still possible for fans to get their money’s worth.
Our guide to the city’s sporting landscape begins with football, recognized by the EU as an important part of the European way of life (just ask Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, himself a big fan of Greek club Aris FC).
So where to?
While Anderlecht has historically been the dominant football team in Brussels, Union Saint-Gilloise has become the hipster club of choice in recent years while usurping Anderlecht on the pitch.
Five years ago it was still possible to show up on game day at the cute little USG stadium in the leafy Forest district and pay for entry at the ticket office. Today, with USG constantly fighting to win the Belgian top flight, those tickets are just as rare as direct answers at the Commission’s lunchtime briefing.
But keep an eye on the USG website for custom game tickets, and you might be able to find a spot on the North Terrace, not far from where the “Ultras” section has a boisterous atmosphere.
If USG is in danger of becoming too popular, you can also head to West Brussels to see RWD Molenbeek, back in the top flight after years in the wilderness – in their run-down old stadium.
Of course, expat fans in Brussels primarily want to follow their beloved teams back home – and luckily, that’s easy.
We generally recommend a few Irish bars in the city. O’Reilly’s in the center and De Valera’s on Place Flagey are best equipped with foreign television channels. A Scottish soccer insider and friend of POLITICO even managed to catch the lower league playoffs on the big screen at De Valera.
Some fan clubs gather in specific bars to cheer on their teams: German fans of Borussia Dortmund and FC Köln both use the Public House at Place de Londres as a base; VfB Stuttgart fans meet at the Wildgänsen in the Europaviertel; For the Portuguese, there is a Benfica-style venue on Avenue de la Couronne next to Café Portugal.
Italian fans, traditionally among Europe’s most passionate, are spread out in bars and cafes across the city. Napoli fans: Fat Boy’s on Avenue de Cortenbergh. Lazio: Café L’Autobus on Place Jourdan. AC Milan: Back to De Valera. Fiorentina: James Joyce at Schuman. Roma: Public House.
In recent years, Union Saint-Gilloise has become the hipsters’ club of choice | Christof Koepsel/Getty Images
Egg hunters, rejoice, there’s also the Rugby World Cup this autumn, taking place in France and likely to be a big hit in the Irish bars of Brussels. Top tip: As you head out of Berlaymont after a busy day of EU bureaucracy, Wild Geese should be your first stop, with the best pub grub in the area and lots of TV screens.
If you prefer your sport with wheels rather than balls, then leave Brussels and Belgium has a lot to offer.
The Formula 1 Grand Prix takes place every summer at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in the picturesque Walloon countryside. Western Flanders hosts several elite professional cycling races in the spring, with the cobbled classic Ronde Van Vlaanderen being the best known.
Even if it rains – which is entirely possible at both venues – you’ll have a great time in the beer tents.
One last hidden gem: Antwerp hosts the European Open men’s tennis every October, which always attracts a strong field of participants. Luckily, this tournament is indoor, so there is no risk of the weather ruining it.
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